Andy Tran Poster 2025

Dr Andy Tran

City St George's, University of London, UK

Development of a Novel Self-adjuvanting Mucosal Vaccine for Tuberculosis (TB)

Poster Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a significant global health challenge. Despite existing treatments, the disease persists due to factors such as drug resistance and the limitations of the current vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which offers inconsistent protection. To address this, we developed a novel TB vaccine candidate, TB-PCF, designed to overcome the shortcomings of existing vaccines.

TB-PCF is a recombinant polymeric construct that integrates the mucosal adjuvant CTB with Mtb antigens (ESAT6 and CFP10) and IgG Fc. Unlike traditional subunit vaccines, TB-PCF uniquely combines the adjuvant and antigens into a single polypeptide chain. This innovative design simplifies vaccine development, manufacturing, and administration, making it particularly suitable for low-resource settings where TB is most prevalent.

In vitro testing demonstrated that TB-PCF efficiently forms polymers and is effectively taken up by antigen-presenting cells. Additionally, the vaccine can be aerosolised while maintaining protein activity, which is crucial for mucosal delivery and enhancing efficacy. In vivo studies in mice revealed robust Th1 and Th17 cellular immunity, as well as systemic and mucosal antibody responses. These immune responses were accompanied by a favourable safety profile.

The efficacy of TB-PCF was further supported by ex vivo assays and preliminary in vivo challenge models, which indicated a reduction in bacterial burden. These findings suggest that TB-PCF has the potential to significantly improve protection against TB.

In conclusion, TB-PCF represents a promising advancement in TB vaccine development. The integration of adjuvants and antigens into a single chain, combined with its demonstrated immunogenicity and efficacy, highlights its potential for future research. This study underscores the importance of innovative approaches in vaccine design and paves the way for further preclinical testing and eventual clinical trials.

Biography

Dr Andy Tran is a molecular biologist specialising in TB immunology and vaccinology, focusing on antibody-based therapies and vaccines for multidrug-resistant TB. His PhD research contributed to the EU Horizon 2020-funded EMI-TB project, exploring novel molecular techniques for mucosal vaccine development. Postdoctorally, he advanced peptide-based TB diagnostic approaches at TiKa Diagnostics Ltd, and developed novel self-adjuvanting vaccine platforms in the Prof. Reljic laboratory, utilising in vivo models and cell cultures. Integrating 3D printing and CAD design, Andy creates custom experimental setups that enhance the precision and innovation of his research in TB immunology and vaccinology.